Onimusha: Way of the Sword ending has a satisfying plot twist waiting for you at the end. But before that, you need to know what happens in the final boss fight, and even before that, you should know what you’re dealing with to get there. So enough yapping. Here’s what actually happens before the final boss fight, all the way to the post-credits secret ending. (Spoiler alert, obviously!)
What You’ll Read:
How to Reach the Onimusha: Way of the Sword Ending
“The Clash at Rendaino” is mission 22, the last one in the game. When you start it, you get an explicit point-of-no-return warning, then free roam shuts off for good. There’s a nice touch here too. The game opens with “The Ruckus at Rendaino” and closes with “The Clash at Rendaino,” same location, full circle.
By the time you reach Rendaino, it’s just you, Takamura, and whatever’s waiting in the castle. And let me tell you, there is a lot waiting for you inside.
You start at Rokudo-chinnoji Temple, talking to Takamura. From there, you fight a stronger version of Benkei, then chase Yoshitsune into Shanaoh Castle (named after his childhood identity, Shana-o, by the way).
Then you climb it, floor by floor, and fight against bosses you’ve already beaten once, in this order:
| Floor | Boss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daidara | Deflect to drain stamina, then punish |
| 2 | Byakue | Reached through a hell portal; watch the miasma |
| 3 | Blue Nue + Red Nue | Fought together |
| 4 | Greater Nue | Cut the tail to limit its attacks |
| 5 | Enemy waves → Dohatsu-ten | Extra Hozuki available here |
Note: This is a long climb. Pace your healing items accordingly before you even reach the top.
The Final Boss Fight Against Yoshitsune
At the top of the castle, you finally face the guy who’s been running things since the opening cutscene: the Man in White, the one who forced the Oni Gauntlet onto Musashi in the first place, is Minamoto no Yoshitsune. I love this reveal because it’s been in plain sight the whole game, and it still fits perfectly. Literal chills!
The final boss fight has three phases, and yes, it’s brutal! It’s the longest and hardest boss in the game by a wide margin. Phases one and two play like a tougher version of everything you’ve fought already. In phase three, he takes zero damage unless you’re in Oni Awakening. Chain Issen counters or build the Blazing Gauge to fuel it, then unload everything the second you transform.
It’s also the payoff for Musashi’s whole arc. He spends the game rejecting the gauntlet’s power, then grudgingly leaning on it, and this fight is where that finally clicks into actually working with it instead of against it.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Ending Explained
After defeating Yoshitsune, Musashi cuts off his arms (and lots of other places too!), and he loses his gauntlet. Then, he starts vaporizing like Voldemort, and Shizuka explains:
You removed yourself from the natural cycle. There is nowhere left to go. You will simply… cease to be.
Once Yoshitsune is gone, Shizuka’s soul, having done her deed for Musashi, leaves to set things right in hell, but she assures that she will be watching over him on his “path to greatness”. (I’m not crying. You are.)
All seems to be coming to an end when Dokyo appears again with Ganryu at her side and starts hoovering all souls that float and wreaking havoc upon the land. But Miyamoto is not the man he was before. He stops fighting himself and fills the gauntlet with all his might. Once filled, he drops the gauntlet from his arm. But does he leave it there? NO!
The last scene shows Okuni and Musashi saying to her that he is going after Ganryu. And Okuni responds with a sword dance and explains she is “going to dance at the Shija Riverbank.” And they both smile.
The end.
Is There a Post-Credits Secret Ending
Short answer: yes. There is a short scene after the credits roll that shows Okuni fighting. Miyamoto shows up to teach her how to be less tense in fighting, but Okuni teases him and makes fun of him. Very touching stuff.
The key point of the scene is this: Musashi drops his cape and appears to be wearing the gauntlet. So he kept the gauntlet after all.
What Happens After You Finish the Game
Picking “Continue” from the title screen drops you back in Kyoto right before the finale, with your cleared character’s gear and upgrades intact. So nothing is missable, and you can go collecting the game’s trophies after the credits roll.
Beating the game also unlocks Carnage difficulty through a new run, plus a panda outfit and a Tsukihashi Wataru mascot outfit at the Spirit Mirror. Clear every boss rematch in the Practice Ground on both Story and Action, and you get separate sword appearances for each.
One collectible is genuinely locked behind finishing the game: Genma Note 23, Yoshitsune’s note. Reload your cleared save, head to the well behind Rokudo-chinnoji Temple, use Oni Vision to spot it, then Oni Power to pop the chest. It’s the only one of the 23 notes gated this way, and since it’s Yoshitsune’s, it’s probably the closest thing to extra lore on him in the whole game.
So did you like Onimusha’s ending? Was it what you expected? Let me know in the comments below.
FAQ
Is There an Onimusha: Way of the Sword True Ending?
No. There is only one ending, and it’s the same regardless of how you play the game.
Can you fight Yoshitsune again after the credits?
Yes, through Boss Rematch in the Practice Ground, unlocked earlier by ringing the bell at Emma’s Hall. Clearing him on the hardest difficulty you’ve tried also credits the easier ones automatically.
What do you keep when you start New Game Plus?
Awakened Oni abilities, pouches and upgrades, charms, outfits, Genma Notes, and rescued Lion Dogs carry over. Story progress, clothing and weapon enhancements, red souls, and the Oni Bow all reset.
Can you still explore Kyoto before the final mission?
Yes. Free roam and collectible hunting stay open right up until you start “The Clash at Rendaino.” Save manually beforehand if you want to finish anything up first.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
